Sunday 9 July 2017 20:42, UK
Ben Brereton and Ryan Sessegnon each scored a brace as England reached the semi-finals of the U19 European Championship with 4-1 victory over Germany in Georgia.
Nottingham Forest forward Brereton's second-half double gave England a 2-0 lead and after Germany substitute Tobias Warschewski pulled one back with 14 minutes left, Fulham's Sessegnon added two late goals.
The Young Lions, who lost both Trevoh Chalobah and Andre Dozzell to injury inside 15 minutes at David Petriashvili Stadium, progressed to the last four as Group B winners having already beaten Holland and Bulgaria.
Next up for England is a semi-final clash with Czech Republic on Wednesday as they remain on target to follow the under-20s' success at the World Cup last month.
England started the game knowing a point would guarantee them a semi-final spot as Group B winners but they were hampered early on with Chalobah stretchered off after picking up an ankle injury.
There was a further blow for Downing and his side in the 15th minute when Andre Dozzell limped off and replaced by Arsenal star Josh DaSilva.
Despite the injuries, England eventually settled into the game and Brereton thought he'd given his side the lead from close range but the flag was up for an offside.
While England only needed a point to reach the semis, Germany needed to score twice to progress and went close through Dennis Geiger, whose long-range effort clipped the top of the crossbar. Gorkem Saglam then saw his low shot blocked by substitute Darnell Johnson.
However, Germany's task made even more difficult early into the second half when England took the lead from the penalty spot. Brereton picked himself up after being tripped by Sidney Friede to beat Eike Bansen from the spot.
Brereton the doubled the advantage in the 64th minute, firing home first-time from Mason Mount's cut back.
Warschewski gave Germany hope in the 76th minute, converting Etienne Amenyido's cross past Aaron Ramsdale from eight yards - the first goal England have conceded at this tournament.
But England made victory safe with Sessegnon producing two excellent finishes inside the space of three minutes.
In the 81st minute, he powered a half-volley past Bansen before linking up with Mount and finishing with a low drive three minutes later to secure England's passage into the last four.
